The Shema

The Shema is contained in the book of Deuteronomy.  The Shema is also "contained" in the mezuzah (see below)

You shall speak of them when you walkest by the way

Pointer at the start of the Ten Commandments, you can also see the left side of the scroll winding down

The grass withers, the flower fades.  
But the word of God stands forever.

--Isaiah 40:8, from this week`s Haftarah 

In this week`s Torah Portion, we are drawing nearer to the end of the Torah cycle.
Its like a crescendo right now, everything from the beginning is coming together in the fifth book of Torah as Moses speaks the words (Devarim) to the Children of Israel.  Can you feel it even now, as the left side of the scroll shortens, and we are coming into the last month of the Hebrew year.

At the same time closer to the beginning.  The Day of Atonement, the Fall Feasts that mark the end of one cycle and beginning of the next, as well as the New Year on the Hebrew calendar are approaching.  God`s cycle of time is eternal and it is also clearly marked with Shabbatot and `Chagim` (Feasts).

This past Shabbat is also called the Shabbat of Comfort, from the first words in the Haftarah from Isaiah, that is read in the same week.
It follows a series of Shabbatot that marked some of the sad and bitter times in Jewish history.

But now is a time of `Comfort`.

"Comfort, comfort My people,"

says your God.   ---Isaiah 40:1

Reading this portion,  it is indeed `comforting` as there is both the Ten Commandments and the `Shema` in this week's reading.
Do you know what the Shema refers to?
It is the scriptures in Deuteronomy 6:4 , which start, Hear O Israel.
In Hebrew, Shema Y`Israel.

 I grew up knowing these words as the Shema, and that they are  "the watchword of our faith." 
I am amazed when I look at my childhood, that my parents  obediently followed the command to "teach these words diligently to your children."  I don`t remember `learning` them, but I don`t remember ever not knowing them.  Its like they were always there... and they were! And they are!!

Even my years as a runaway from the God of Israel (you may know that part of my story from elsewhere on the blog!), I still said these words as a prayer before bedtime, it was almost automatic, and I never really thought that I was keeping my connection by saying them, I just said them.  Its like a piece of me wasn't rebelling and knew that they were a treasure to keep.  So when I returned to the God of Israel, and said these words, it was like they really were a lifeline and felt soo....well... to use a word from this week...comforting!!

   As I reflect on them in reading in this week cycle, their eternal place in our lives  and the way they are a direct connect to the God of Israel just spoke to me in a new way.  I don't know if you were brought up saying them every day as maybe it is something that just Jewish parents teach, I am not sure, but if you don`t say them each day, I would just like to invite you to!!  Like a parent teaching them diligently to a child, I would leave these words here,  and if someone is reading this and inspired to begin to incorporate them into your daily prayer times, then I will have done my `mitzvot` for today.

These are the words of the Shema Israel.

Shema Israel ADONAI Eloheinu

ADONAI Echad

Hear O Israel

The Lord our God

the Lord is One.

שְׁמַע, יִשְׂרָאֵל:  יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה אֶחָד. 

וְאָהַבְתָּ, אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ, וּבְכָל-מְאֹדֶךָ
וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם--עַל-לְבָבֶךָ
 וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ, וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם, בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ, וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ
וּבְקוּמֶךָ
 וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת, עַל-יָדֶךָ; וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת, בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ
 וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל-מְזֻזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ, וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ

V'ahavta et ADONAI Elohecha b'chol-l'vav'cha oovchol-nafsh'cha oovchol-m'odecha.
V'hayu had'varim ha'elleh asher anochi m'tzav'cha hayom al-l'vavecha
Oovlecht'cha vaderech oov'shochb'cha oovkumecha.
ookshartam l'ot al-yadecha v'hayu l'totafot bein einecha.
oochtavtam al-m'zuzot beitecha oovisharecha.

Love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These words, which I am commanding you today, are to be on your heart.  You are to teach them diligently to your children, and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.  Bind them as a sign on your hand, they are to be as frontlets between your eyes, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4~9

 Amen.

♡

Note:  A  `Mezuzah`is pictured (a little exaggerated so you can see it!) in the picture.   
The Mezuzah is a box that contains a scroll which has written on it the words of the Shema.  The letter `Shin` that you see drawn on it is the Hebrew letter with the sound `Sh` that starts the Shema.   When you come in to the house it is customary to kiss the mezuzah by kissing your hand and touching the `Sh` thus acknowledging the words contained in the Shema!!

Hebrew notes if you would like to read on!
1.  Something I noticed as I was writing the transliteration, the word Devarim, which I have used in a few posts recently.  This word is the name of the Fifth book of the bible in Hebrew and means "Words".  In English we call this book, Deuteronomy.   Of course the Parsha is always named after the first words in the reading, but I find it also interesting how often Devarim, or words is used throughout the book!!

Other note'  You can see the word "Mezuzot" in the last line in the Hebrew and it is the plural of "Mezuzah" and means doorpost.

this post's Hebrew lesson!

Shema=hear, listen
Ha devarim=these words
al m'zuzot=on the doorposts

Nachamu= Comfort
Shabbat Nachamu=Sabbath of Comfort

and one bonus word
Ahava =  Love
(as in Ve ahavta et Adonai Elohecha, you shall love the Lord thy God)

Love and Words and Bread!

AHAVA=Love

(note:  I started this post draft some time ago, maybe two weeks or so! I haven`t really been on the blog so much, maybe because summer heat, family, giving out fans, et al!! Look forward to visit you soon and meanwhile just catching up a little on a post or two!! Note when I say `this week`s parsha` or a week ago parsha, it is actually by now two weeks ago, will hope to be up to date shortly in  a post or so!! much love, Shayndel)

Diary/Reflections/Drawings on this weeks Parsha, Parsha Eikev, Because

If you love me you will keep my Commandments.    --John 14:15

Since God knows I love challah and I love making challah for His Shabbat, He showed me a scene, on Shabbat, of rolling hills of challah.   As soon as I saw them I ran to dance over them to meet him as He reaches down to me!!And made the drawing below (in the post below).

In this past weeks parsha is the famous scripture that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (see Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3 from this weeks Parsha Eikev)

You may not be surprised, I am particularly attracted to scriptures about bread.  

Also this parsha is, as I talked before a few posts down, getting to the end of the fifth book of the Torah cycle and the cycle is winding down to the end. Which means also winding up to the beginning, and all over this book we see....

1. Love

what a Love story the Torah is between God and His people!!

This is another drawing/collage to express the Love story that is written in His word.

It is the word AHAVA, Love, in Hebrew letters.  More than a drawing, I guess you could say its a collage and an idea for another fan!  (Those who know the LOVE sculpture and the AHAVA sculpture, both famous worldwide, will see how they influenced my design with added Japanese touches!)

Equating love with the keeping of God`s commandments is expressed throughout the Torah and throughout the book of Deuteronomy it is emphatic.  .

In the book of Deuteronomy (called Devarim in Hebrew)  several times the commandment is "These words which I command you this day...."  are always in context with "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart".  This time as I was reading those scriptures repeatedly, it was a very clear connection between loving the Lord and keeping His commandments.

2.  Words

Devarim, Word.  AHAVA, Love.  Mitzvot, commandment.

When asked what is the greatest commandment, Yeshua replies it is to Love the Lord with all your heart.  And after that to Love your neighbor as yourself.  In this reply, He leads us to the entire word of God, and as He is the Living Word, He leads us to Himself.  When we read the Words (Devarim) it helps us to understand what it means to LOVE.

3.  Bread

This week`s parsha (actually its last weeks as I started this post then but now posting it and its already a week later!)  has the famous scripture that man cannot live on bread alone but by the words that come out of the mouth of God.

As you might imagine, as a person who loves to make Challah, I am particularly attracted to scriptures about bread!  

When I made the drawing in the post just below), it seemed fitting in the parsha Ekev!! Though I learned the Parsha is very specific to the land of Israel and its blessings, I saw this vision of dancing and running on mountains of rolling challah!! It could be that the bread is what will take us back to the Land!!

I am the Bread of Life      --John 6:35

No one comes to the Father except through Me.    --John 14:6

Love, Words, Bread.
These are the words that stood out for me in this week's reading.
What words that are in your heart this week?

Love and Blessings!

Shayndel

♡

2 New Challah-casts from readings in the book of Deuteronomy

He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord!                 Deuteronomy 8:3

In this challah-cast for Parsha Ekev (below),  I  got excited to look into the scripture from Deuteronomy 8:3 as it is a kind of theme scripture for the challah-casts, which are about bread (challah) and the word of God.
I `wrote` two Hebrew words in Challah!! You will soon see the words they are, and hope you might enjoy the discoveries in these two challah-casts !!





The upload below is a kind of `prelude` to the Ekev upload, but either can stand on its own as well!!!  In it you will see how to make a four-strand Challah.   I relate that to the readings in our parsha and the single utterance to `Remember` and `Guard` the Shabbat, and seeing that in relation to the words `Shamor` and `Zachor`.  We are in a beautiful relationship with our Maker who `keeps` us and asks us to `keep` or `Guard` those things that are precious to Him!! Praise the LORD!!

 Be blessed!! and again, thank you for reading watching or just being along on the journey together!!!

Daily Bread Post-card(s)!

 On Shavuot we are commanded to offer two loaves of bread to the L-RD, to ADONAI, the Almighty Creator of the Universe.  And to bring them from wherever we are!

Today`s Daily Bread Post-card* is a double portion!
In honor of the feast of Shavuot.

This week, I will share two postcards!!

With two loaves of bread in each!!  The scripture is the same in both, Leviticus 23:17.
I send them to you.

They are both about bringing the offering of two loaves of bread, and waving them as a `wave  offering` to ADONAI.  One is a drawing I made at Shavuot last year (below) and one is a drawing I made this year (above).

This is the drawing I made last year :





This year,  I went out early in the morning once more to wave the loaves up to the G-d of Heaven! When I lowered my hands to bring the loaves back down, there was a flash of light on the `sole` of the two loaves in my hands!!! When I saw this flash of light, I thought of the lightning at Mt. Sinai at the giving of the Torah.  I felt that I received something from the L-RD, and everything became peaceful.  My heart had a moment of existing in His great Shalom!!!

Later on, I tried to draw something about the experience.  I looked at my drawing from last year.  Although there was something the `same` about my experience this year, I knew something was different. 

The Feast Day of Shavuot is an appointment to meet the G-d of Heaven.  During the 40 days since Pesach we anticipate this meeting and what it will be, as we work on the cleaning of our hearts and making ourselves ready for that meeting.  This time I felt He really was there to receive it!  In the drawing (top of this post)  I wanted to express that `meeting`, as we lift up the loaves.

For each person, Shavout brings a unique moment for each of us to re-live that experience of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai every year, to offer our `firstfruits`, and to re-new our commitment to Him!  I hope the drawings can communicate even the least of that in the two postcards this week.

Shavuot is also the day that we read about in the book of Acts when the Disciples of Yeshua were gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem.  It was on the Feast Day of Shavuot that the Holy Spirit was poured down on the disciples and they received the Spirit of the L-rd!  Did you know the holiday known as `Pentecost` was not a `new` holiday, but rather it was on Shavuot,  First Fruits, exactly 50 days (Pentecost means the fiftieth day, in Greek) after Pesach, that the Holy Spirit was poured out!!!

One of the meanings of the two loaves is that they represent Jew and Gentile, together as one in Messiah Yeshua!  

Hope you had/having a blessed holiday!  Chag Sameach!

Love,

Shayndel


*Each week for the past ...weeks I have been posting a  Daily Bread Post-card.  Bread in this feature refers to Challah, which this blog is themed on.  In a larger sense, it refers to the word of G-d, which is our daily bread!  Because man (and woman) cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of G-d (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).  And to take that further, Bread also refers to Messiah Yeshua because He himself is the Bread of Life. 

＊

He afflicted you and let you hunger, then He fed you manna--which neither you nor your fathers had known--in order to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of ADONAI.  ---Deuteronomy 8:3  TLV

Blossoming Clouds

I just had to stop to watch the blossoming clouds! 

This long challah, I mean, cloud, was even long and rectangular like the rod that blossoms!

The sky reflects the Parsha and that God is always...watching!

and behold, Aaron`s staff, from the house of Levi, had sprouted, blossomed, and produced almonds!  --Numbers 17:8

Friday early afternoon sky.
The clouds were blossoming!
Just like Aaron's rod!
I love the scriptures and the image in this weeks reading of  how Aaron's rod blossoms and bloomed with almonds.

 I spent some time admiring and watching the blossoming sky.  I have heard the expression about chasing clouds before, but this may be the first time I ever really did it!!! Racing on my bicycle to see the clouds over the river, and then once there I just stayed a while.

 I love this word about the rod that blossoms and produced almonds, and also made a blossoming challah (post to follow!) this Shabbat.   The meaning of "almonds" in Hebrew is the from the root word "shaked"  and I learned it can have a double meaning in scripture as it is from the same root as the word that means "watch",* as in God is watching over us.   In the blossoming  sky,  He is there watching, and even reflecting what is in our hearts.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 

the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;  

the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121:5~8

Blessings and Love!
Shabbat Shalom,
 ♡

Shayndel

*post.note, a correction about my Hebrew discovery... after writing I looked up the word in Hebrew in the Psalm verses quoted above, and actually for `watch` in this case,  it is more like `guard` than `watch`, so it is not the same word as `shaked` in this case.  It`s `shamor`, which is `guard`, or `keep`, a new interesting discovery, as that is the word that we say every week at Shabbat in `Remember` (Exodus 20:8) and `Keep` (shamor, which also means `guard`) the Shabbat (Deuteronomy 5:12)!  So as He lovingly watches/guards over us, and we actually have the loving command to be the ones to  `guard` His commandments.  


 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  --Exodus 20:8

Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it    --Deuteronomy 5:12

Challah Diary, Ein Od Milvado

The LORD is God--there is none other besides Him.

from Deuteronomy 4:35

In a recent weeks parsha reading (again, I am talking about a few weeks back as I am still catching up on posting!), Parsha Va`Etchanan, we find the words that in Hebrew say,

אֵין עוֹד, מִלְּבַדּוֹ

Ein Od Milvado

It means there is no other besides Him.

The challah book I use* that my sister gave me as a present has a section called "Challah Meditations" that comes after the recipes.  One of the meditations is these words!  The writer shares of meditating on God's word when making the challah.   One of the verses she shared is Ein Od Milvado,  and I started saying that verse when I knead the dough.

 But I hadn`t realized exactly where  in the Torah it came from until I was reading in the weekly portion and noticed them (Deuteronomy 4:35) when I heard them spoken!  Out of many words that I didn't understand, at once I heard those words!

I love this meditation and it makes the challah making time a special time to focus on the LORD and to meditate on His word and on Him as we prepare for the Shabbat.   Another scripture that she mentions as part of this meditation is from Isaiah 11:9.  This one I say in English!

The earth will be filled with the intimate knowledge of the LORD 
as the waters fill the seas.

These words then stay with me like waves through the week.

Ein Od Milvado.

             Ein Od Milvado.

                            Ein Od Milvado.

Lord there is none like You.  You are the only source and the Oneness of all creation and all sustenance.

Blessings and Shabbat Shalom and  a blessed week to all.  Love, Shayndel

*reference:   Rising, The Book of Challah by Rochie Pinson

Ch & Ch Blossoms Diary: A mezuzah story

      
        The LORD will watch over your coming and your going
        from this time forth and forevermore.           Psalm 121:8

 Note:  This story does contain challah!

A few months ago, all the doors of the apartments in our building were changed.
It was in the planning for a while, and at last we got new green doors to replace the old (green doors!) that had started to creak and jam and some other concerns for which it was unanimous in the building that we would change them all.

The workman and his team did the work efficiently and smoothly and thankfully now we all have new doors.  As it was a big work that was being done in the doorway, where the mezuzah is on the door frame,  I prayed a blessing on the workmen, and for a blessing on all those getting new doors that they would sanctify their homes and hearts to the LORD!! and that the mezuzah would be fine through it！

You are to write (these words) on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
                                                                                     Deuteronomy 6:9

For those who don't know what a mezuzah is, it is the little "box" with a scroll in it containing the "Shema", words from Deuteronomy 6:4~9 that gets affixed on the doorposts.  It is a commandment to speak these words and teach these words and keep them on our heart and to put those words "on the doorposts of your house".  It reminds us of the LORD's sovereignty in our lives and homes.  As we are human, these "physical" reminders of God's presence in our lives serve a beautiful and holy purpose.  Beautiful in that there really are so many beautiful mezuzot (link HERE to some you can see on a Judaica site!).  Holy because when you enter the house after all the worldly things we run around doing outside and then you come to the threshold of your home, you look up and see that simple yet beautiful box and know that is a reminder to focus on the things above.  It makes coming into your home a sacred act and brings new meaning even to the doorway, and to that simple act of entering the door ーーreach up and give it a little touch and then your hand a sweet kiss !!!

 a few months later---。。。

After the new door was put in, the old "screen door" that is on the inside  looked even more shabby in contrast , and I had been realizing for some time I wanted to change that too.  I had been trying to arrange with the workman who did the doors for us to put in the new screen door, and finally this past week it was done.  When he came in to do the work, he  and his co-workman started to quickly and methodically take down the "door frame".  I was surprised and hadn't realized that there was a separate door frame that went just with the screen door, and that is the place where I had affixed our mezuzah!!

So I was watching as my mezuzah was going out of the house with the door frame!!  I quickly interrupted!! And said to him, that--pointing to the mezuzah--  that has to stay!! Of course I had no idea to communicate that it was a "mezuzah".  I am sure that even with all  of doors he has replaced and door frames, this would be his first encounter with a mezuzah, and I decided unless he asked, I wasn't going to explain as this would be difficult in Japanese.  But I needed to let him know it was important to me and to ask him to handle that area of the door frame with care, and that I would remove it.  Once he saw how it was attached he took a knife blade and carefully removed it as I watched.  It was just attached with a heavy duty double stick tape.

I have to add here, that I had been praying for this workman that somehow God would give him a revelation of Himself, through his encounter with the mezuzah.  Maybe he would see a TV show on the Jewish people , as sometimes on the Japanese TV there are such documentaries, and that he would encounter the meaning of a mezuzah in that way, or in a dream Yeshua would appear and tell him what it was, or any way that the Holy Spirit would show Himself!! That was my prayer.  Dear LORD, please if in any way reveal a knowledge of you and a YOUR love in this encounter.  I believed a divine encounter was being set-up here, as he was doing this work that concentrated on the door post of our home.

He finished the work, and said he needed to come back to paint some areas on the door frame.  After that,  I paid for the work right away at its completion.  Then he said he needed to come back again to bring me the receipt.  I said he could leave it in the postbox, but he was insistent about bringing it in person. I figured that was a formality and proper closure for this business.  But when he came to the door next time, he had brought me a bag of bread!!

As I  received the bread,  a divine light fell on  the scene and I could feel the presence of the Holy spirit.  Bread! An encounter with bread so unexpectedly like this, that took place within the door posts of the house.   In the glow of the moment,  I wanted to give him something, and remembered I had a challah.  I usually give one of the  challah to someone on the weekend of each Shabbat, but that last week I had one "saved" in the freezer for when an opportune time came!   I ran and got it, and explained about it being frozen, but in any case he was glad to receive it and bowed a thank you, as is customary in Japan.  I did the same to thank him, and the divine light remained on us in that doorway until our thanks were completed, bread exchanged, and we each turned in or out leaving from the space of the doorway to go on our ways!!

PS Oh my goodness, I just realized something! Does anyone recall my recent upload for the Red Bean Challah? He gave me red bean bread!!! (as well as other kind of coffee cake bread).

About the photos below!
  When I was in Israel I loved seeing the "physical" reminders of God's commandments everywhere, and on every doorway is a mezzuzah.  I saw beautiful ones, old and new.  Somehow though I didn't take any photos of them, just "experienced" them!.   So although I didn't actually take any pictures of a mezuzah, I did a little detective work into my photos from Israel, and when you zoom in on the doorways in these photos,  below, you can see on the right side of the doorway, facing slightly in to the shops, a little long thin rectangular box!! That is a mezuzah!!

Can you find the Mezzuzah in each?  Hint, in the first photo there are many mezuzot in the shop window!!

can you see the mezuzah affixed to the doorways on these two shops?  above, a Jewish art and fashion shop, below a bagel shop! both in Jerusalem

Blessings and a happy day to you filled with new and divine encounters in your comings and goings!
Shalom!

Love,♡
Shayndel

The mezuzah on this doorway is a little harder to see at first, but there it is if you can zoom in, between the red door frame and the beautiful blossoming at the entrance

I am the door*! If anyone comes in through Me, he will be saved.  
He will come and go and find pasture.    
John 10:9

*or, Gate

Concluding remarks and observations of what I learned through the meeting with the workman!

 God's commandments are gifts for all who desire and choose to walk in His ways.   They are  "new" each time we lovingly do them.  Not only that, but when we do them and do them lovingly and obediently without asking for explanations of why, He reveals to us something about Himself, and how they are so "now" as He is the same as always and forever.    His mercies are new every morning!

Sometimes the commands in the physical can help us to do the commands of the "spiritual".  I.e, my conclusion here is that  observing the command to affix a mezzuzah to my door, brought about this moment that He was able to manifest a "Love thy neighbor as thyself" experience!!  Without the mezuzzah, I can honestly say that I think this exchange with the workman would have been "business as usual", unless I was to have that spiritual insight on my own about the doorway (which I am sure I wouldn't have without the "training" from the commandment of the Mezzuzah through which he teaches us ).   But who knows?  Only God knows!!

From down here on earth, I find that the mezuzzah is a gift and a blessing, and draws me closer to the God of Heaven.

photo from in Israel: Capernum,
Yeshua's town where he often taught in the synagogues, this shows the remains of one of the synagogues where he taught.

Sing to the LORD!!

 

 I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

---Exodus 20:1  TLV

This week is a week to fall deeply in love with the Master of the Universe.
If you haven`t already done so.  And even if you have, it is a time to go deeper into that love as we read Parsha Yitro for this coming Shabbat.

Parsha Yitro is the Torah Portion that has the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai.

God`s laws were spoken, written on stone tablets and then on our hearts.   May our hearts melt with Love for our Creator as we desire to know Him, to follow his Law, and to see how that Law is a Love that is so great and so far-reaching that extends over all the universe and into our very own each and individual heart. 

Photos and story update:  since last week of Tu B`Shevat, I have an ume tree on the balcony! Photos include bringing it home by bicycle.  
The city views are not from the balcony, but just put in a few from this week to show you  a view of our city!  Blessings and Shalom!! 

Shayndel

ADONAI spoke with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.

(I was standing between ADONAI and you at that time, to tell you the word of ADONAI, because you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain.)

He said:

"I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

You shall not have other gods beside Me.

Do not make for yourself a graven image--no image of what is in the heavens above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  Do not bow down to them or worship them.  For I, ADONAI your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My mitzvot.

You must not take the Name of ADONAI your God in vain, for ADONAI will not leave unpunished anyone who takes His Name in vain.

Observe Yom Shabbat to keep it holy, as ADONAI your God commanded you.  Six days you are to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat to ADONAI your God.

---Deuteronomy 5:4~14 TLV*

*this is from the first Five of The Ten Words (please read the full Ten Words both Exodus chapter 20 and Deuteronomy Chapter 5 and this weeks Parsha Yitro.)

This weeks readings:
Parsha Yitro---Jethro (abundance)
Exodus 18:1~20:26
Isaiah 6:1~7:6,9:6~7
Matthew 5:8~20

Blessings and Shalom!

SHALOM on a Typhoon Day, fifth Challah Cover, Getting to know You

Challah and Cherry Blossoms Diary

Today home on a typhoon day,  sewing the fifth challah cover.
The Hebrew letters on this Challah Cover say...

` SHALOM`

As I am sewing, it struck me how this year of studying the Torah has  been a year of getting to know our Creator, giver of the Torah. 

I was feeling happy and peaceful at the thought, and a song came to mind.  Not a Hebrew song, not exactly a worship song.  But rather a song from a musical.  Do you know this song?  It is called `Getting to Know You`.  It`s from... oh, I am laughing now after the fact to  realize what musical it is from...

it`s from `The King and I`!!!

Yes, reading God`s Torah is getting to know Him, getting to know more about Him.  Learning to Love Him, seeing the wonders he does and most of all,  the wonder of Who He Is!

getting to know you , getting to feel free and easy,, while I am with you, getting to know what you see! haven`t you noticed, suddenly I`m bright and breezy?!...

because of  all the beautiful and new things I`m learning about YOU day by day!!!   When I am with you, getting to know what you say...---words from the Rogers and Hammerstein song, Getting to Know you, from The King and I

In the Torah portion this past week, in Deuteronomy, we read  how the words in the Torah are not meant to be difficult or baffling, but rather that they are to be very close to us, in our mouth and in our heart, to do them.  (Deuteronomy 30:11 ~14).

The Torah brings peace to our heart.  Yeshua our Messiah and Savior is the Prince of Peace.
As we near the end of the Torah on this cycle, getting ready to scroll back to the beginning,  may your days be filled with His great Shalom.

Shalom means Peace (and other meanings as well) .  These are some scriptures that mention the word Shalom, peace.  Please share any of your favorites as well!

＊

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have shalom.  In the world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!   --- Yeshua`s words from John 16:33 TLV

For thus says ADONAI:
Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream.    ---Isaiah 66:12

And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.   ---Philippians 4:7

 ADONAI gives strength to His people.
ADONAI blesses His people with shalom.    ---Psalm 29:11

"Yes, you will go out with joy

and be led forth with peace.

The mountains and the hills

will break forth before you singing,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands!"

---Isaiah 55:12

Seek Shalom and pursue it!   --Psalm 34:15

Shalom be upon Israel !  ---Psalm 128: 6

Love,

Shayndel

And now, the Feasts!

Shabbat Zachor and the eve before Purim!

These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family and in every province and every city.  These days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor their remembrance perish from their descendants.

---Esther, 9:28

The Shabbat before Purim this past weekend was called Shabbat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance.  On this Shabbat we remember to never forget what Amalek did to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.  (see Deuteronomy 25:17~19))  Amalek had no fear of God.  Haman from the story of Esther is said to descend from Amalek and thus the connection of this week`s special Shabbat and Purim.

Throughout the Bible we are taught that the Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, the Fear of God is what brings us life and into light*.  Those who have no fear of God but live for men and the glory of self walk in the way of darkness.  In the age we live in now too, many people do not know the fear of God. In the story of Esther, the wicked Haman did not have the fear of God. He believed he himself could control fate and randomly by `lots` destroy a whole people.  Queen Esther, who had not yet revealed to the King that she was Jewish, called all the Jewish people together in a fast and in unity and she was granted the scepter to have an audience with the King.  She prepared two great feasts before revealing her identity as a Jew and putting forth her request for the King to save her people.  In the end, Haman, was hanged on the gallows that he prepared for Mordechai.  Hence we make a feast on this day and celebrate the deliverance of the Jews.

Actually, this year it was an ongoing feast from Shabbat to the night of  Purim to the day of Purim, because Purim began on sundown Saturday just when the Shabbat finished! Hamentashen (triangle-shaped!)  for breakfast and Kreplach (triangle shaped!)  for lunch, and we have to get at least tipsy so we completely forget the name of Haman.

You will start to see triangles by the time the meal is done!!

In the post below I talked about the hamentashen.
So now we can return to the feast!

Purim breakfast table! (photo above), Purim day lunch! (below)

Purim Challah in a twisted rope shape, filled with cherry blossom filling.  Remember that `hamen-tashen` means `weaken Hamen` so as you can see, the Purim feast has a lot to say !!!

Japanese `Onigiri` rice balls also make a good addition to your Purim in Japan menu! They not only are triangle shaped, but they also have `hidden` fillings inside.

The fear of ADONAI prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

---Proverbs 10:27

The Purim challah (above middle) is in a circle shape, it is two stands twisted together like a rope that Haman was hung by.  I got the idea from this Purim challah Here.   But I made a variation. In my version, inside is , again, cherry blossoms! To represent the saving and resurrection power of Messiah Yeshua, and the fruit that comes from following the ways of Torah!!!

A Song of Ascents.
Happy is everyone in awe of ADONAI, 
who walks in His ways,
for you will eat the labor of your hands.
You will be blessed 
and it will be good for you.

---Psalm 128:1~2

On Purim we rejoice because although God was `hidden` in the pages of the book, it was a fear of God that kept the Jewish people so strong as they were a people who agreed together to walk in the ways of righteousness and who kept the Law of God. 

May we remember to blot out the memory of Amalek!! One of the meanings for hamentashen
is that `tashen` means to weaken, so the word hamentashen means to weaken Hamen and hence the power of Amalek. 

In Yeshua`s name I declare OUT AMALEK!!

For God, who said "Let light shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Messiah.   ---2 Corinthians 4:6

Blessings and Shavu`a Tov!!
From your Challah and Cherry Blossoms Correspondent,

Shayndel

Now when ADONAI your God grants you rest from all the enemies surrounding you in the land ADONAI your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.  Do not forget!

---Deuteronomy 25:19

Shalom be upon Israel!

---Psalm 128:6b

*There are so many great verses about Fear of the LORD, HERE are some to start!

Note on Purim Giving: It is a mitzvot on Purim to give to those in need ,
may we not forget to give in this season!
Blessings and Shalom!

Kreplach in soup, and Esther-inspired beans stew

food note:  Queen Esther hid her Jewish identity while she lived in the palace, so it is said she kept a vegetarian diet in order to keep kosher.  See recipe for this Persian-inspired bean dish with cinnamon and tomato HERE.  These Kreplach contain meat and sweet potato and onion, but you can also find vegetarian Kreplach recipes for Purim.

Psalm 91 & Parsha Ekev ! Behold Yeshua

 

Can you see the number on the scale? It is `91`! which led me to Psalm 91 for the `Word` in Challah!

Raah, Behold!

Yeshua

Man cannot live by bread alone! But from every word from the mouth of God!

“Because he has devoted his love to Me,
    I will deliver him.
I will set him securely on high,
    because he knows My Name. When he calls on Me, I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble, rescue him, and honor him. 

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him My salvation.”

 

Psalm 91:14~16

 

Dear Beloved blog friends, Shabbat Shalom! Sorry I haven`t written for sooooo long!  I hope you are all well.  

 

This Shabbat I was moved by the verse in our Torah portion,

 

"Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"

 

To come back to make a post!

Because

it is the parsha EKEV which means `because`

and because

this verse is a theme verse at Challah and Cherry Blossoms.

Because  bread (challah), and the word of God and bringing them together, are the topics of my blog!!

 

So I asked the Holy Spirit for a word to make in Challah, to share with you, and He led me to 

 

`Behold Yeshua`!!

 In Hebrew, the root words are

RA`AH רָאָה 

which means to See, or Behold,

and Yeshua, יְשׁוּעָה

which means Salvation and is the name of Yeshua

 

You can see the verse in Psalm 91 above, where these two words are found, literally `show him My Salvation`,

 

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him My salvation.”

אֹרֶךְ יָמִים, אַשְׂבִּיעֵהוּ;    וְאַרְאֵהוּ, בִּישׁוּעָתִי

 

I hope you were able to follow that! One more piece is that the word actually came about as I was measuring the challah dough to divide it in strands.  At that time I still didn`t know what word I would make in challah, but when I broke off a piece of dough to measure it, the scale said `91`! and the Holy Spirit spoke to me!!

 

I usually divide the pieces in either 100 grams each for 12 strands which generally works out well, as the dough generally comes to about 1200 grams.  Or sometimes I do 80 grams each for several smaller challah.

 

So when I saw 91, it stood out and I thought right away of Psalm 91!!! 

 I read through the Psalm asking the Holy Spirit to Highlight a verse or a word(s), and when I got to the last verse I saw it all came together in `Yeshua`, and even `MY Salvation!`.

 

As the Parsha is all about God`s LOVE and the `conditional` aspect, of `Because` or `IF` we show our loving devotion to God, He will do all these things and show us His Salvation.   

 

It just seemed so perfect as remember the verse we started from was `Man does not live by bread alone but by everything that comes from the mouth of God` (Deuteronomy 8:3).  That "everything" includes every decree, every statute, every word, every declaration.  So here it was,

 

With long life I will satisfy those who LOVE me and Devote their LOVE to Me!!

That is exactly what our Parsha Ekev and all of the Torah is about! IF you love me, you will obey and guard my commandments and statutes.

 

Don`t you just love that, and above you can see the Shabbat Table and how it came out!

 

Another interesting thing is that the verse that I was led to has `Because` in it twice.  Even though the Hebrew is not the same as `EKEV`, the meaning is similar, as it is "as a result of , a reward for, because of," our devotion to  Him that He gives us this wonderful promise of a long life and His Salvation!

 

Thank you for coming this far.  As we partake of the words of Life` the bread of Life , and drink the cup of Salvation  let us say together.  

Le chay-im! To LIFE!!

 

Good to see you all again!

Hope to be back sooner rather than later this time.

To Life and Salvation in Yeshua! 

Much Love,❤️

Shayndel

“Then it will happen, as a result of your listening to these ordinances, when you keep and do them, that Adonai your God will keep with you the covenant kindness that He swore to your fathers.

He will love you, bless you and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your soil, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you. 

Deuteronomy  7:12~13 (first lines of Parsha EKEV)　

PS　You may have noticed if you are following the weekly Torah portions, that RE`EH , the word I spelled out in Challah, is the name of next week`s Parsha!

 

AHAVA NOTE. 

Please feel free to find my AHAVA prayer sheets which give a family friendly summary of the weekly Torah portions as well as verses to pray for your loved ones, communities, and Israel each week to go with the parsha! 

AHAVA Parsha Ekev Prayer Sheet HERE(this week)

AHAVE Parsha Re`eh Prayer Sheet HERE  (coming week)

Reading this week in EKEV, the Torah is A love letter from Abba 💌 

❤️

 

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. 

Abide in My love!

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full. 

John 15:9~11